Application of glossmarks for graphics enhancement

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to providing a designer with the tools for the manipulation of differential gloss in halftoned images. A special mask layer is provided for the rendering of desired glossmark image data. The desired glossmark image data is used to select between two halftones with anisotropic structure characteristics which are significantly different in orientation while remaining identical in density. This selection is made for each corresponding portion of primary image data. In this way, a halftone image of the primary image is generated with glossmarks imbedded therein which will display differential gloss without the need for special toners or paper.

RELATED CASES

Cross reference is made to the following related applicationincorporated by reference herein: application Ser. No. 10/159,423,entitled “HALFTONE IMAGE GLOSS CONTROL FOR GLOSSMARKS” to inventorsShen-ge Wang, Beilei Xu, and Chu-heng Liu.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally the gloss inherent in thehardcopy of image data be it pictorial or text as generated by graphicdesign artists. More particularly, this invention relates to halftonedimage data and the control of differential gloss when that halftoneimage data is printed into hardcopy for the graphic arts.

There is an ever constant desire and need within the advertising andgraphic arts to provide printed matter, be it posters, brochures, ormagazines, in new and fresh ways which will appeal to the eye anew. Onesuch approach is to provide gloss image overlays or glossmarks. However,heretofore such a technique has not proven popular. This is basicallybecause either the client is unwilling to pay extra for the effect orthe additional required processing has been too onerous to schedule orotherwise reliably juggle within the industry. The hurdles areessentially the need for special toners or paper or both, combined withany special handling issues.

There has been a need for a printer that can print a page that willprovide localized gloss control. One method, described in U.S. Pat. Nos.4,210,346 and 5,695,220, is to use a particular white toner and aparticular white paper that are designed to have different diffusedlight characteristics at different angles. Of course, this systemrequires special, matched paper and toner.

In U.S. Pat. No. 6,108,512 to Hanna, the invention described discloses asystem for producing non-copyable prints. In a xerographic printer, textis printed using clear toner. Thus, the only optical difference betweentoner and non-toner portions of the page is in the reflectivity. Theplastic toner will reflect more light than the paper. A human reader cannow read the image by holding the page at such an angle that the eyewill intercept the reflected light from the toner, producing a contrastbetween the lighter appearing toner and the darker appearing paper.However, a copier scanner is always set up to avoid reflected light, bysupplying light at an oblique angle and reading at a right angle. Inthis case, the diffused light is approximately equal for both toned anduntoned surfaces, the scanner will detect no difference and the copierwill not be able to copy the original.

All of the above are herein incorporated by reference in their entiretyfor their teaching.

Therefore, as discussed above, there exists a need within the marketing,advertising and graphics art industries for an arrangement andmethodology which will enable gloss control and allow manipulation forglossmarks without requiring special toners/inks or paper/substrates orspecial handling. Thus, it would be desirable to solve this and otherdeficiencies and disadvantages as discussed above with an improvedmethodology for the manipulation of perceived gloss in graphic artdocuments and product.

The present invention relates to a method for a designer to provideglossmarks in a halftone image comprising the steps of providing aunique mask level with desired glossmark data and providing primaryimage data. This is then followed by using the unique mask level data totoggle the selection of either a first halftone having a firstanisotropic structure orientation or a second halftone having a secondanisotropic structure orientation different from that of the firsthalftone, where the first halftone is used for at least some portion ofthe primary image data and the second halftone is used for the remainingportion of the primary image data in rendering the halftone image.

In particular, the present invention relates to a method for a designerto provide glossmarks in a halftone image comprising the steps ofproviding a unique mask level with desired glossmark data and providingprimary image data. This is then followed by using the unique mask leveldata to toggle the selection of either a first halftone having a firstanisotropic structure orientation or a second halftone different fromthat of the first halftone, where the first halftone is used for atleast some portion of the primary image data and the second halftone isused for the remaining portion of the primary image data in renderingthe halftone image.

The present invention also relates to a method for a designer to provideglossmarks in a halftone image comprising the steps of providing aunique mask level with desired glossmark data and providing primaryimage data. This is then followed by using the unique mask level data totoggle the selection of either a first halftone having a firstanisotropic structure orientation, or a second halftone having a secondanisotropic structure orientation different from that of the firsthalftone, or a third halftone having a structure different from both thefirst halftone and the second halftone, where the first halftone is usedfor at least some portion of the primary image data, and the secondhalftone is used for another portion of the primary image data, and thethird halftone is used for the remaining portion of the primary imagedata in rendering the halftone image.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows how the human eye can detect a large difference between theglossy portions of the page but a scanner detector cannot.

FIG. 2 depicts a differential gloss found in simple line-screenhalftones.

FIG. 3 shows two 3×6 halftone patterns suitable in anisotropic structureto produce discernable gloss differential for practicing the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a density sweep of the two halftone patterns of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 depicts a patchwork alternating of the two halftone patterns ofFIG. 3 so as to achieve a glossmark.

FIG. 6 shows one embodiment for achieving the image directed alternationof the halftone patterns for glossmarks as depicted in FIG. 5, utilizingthe halftone patterns of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 shows an example of desired glossmark data superimposed above aprimary image.

DESCRIPTION

By proper utilization of the perceived differential gloss inherentbetween various anisotropic halftone dot structures, the desiredmanipulation of perceived gloss and the generation of glossmarks viathat differential gloss may be achieved without the need for specialpaper or special toners or inks. A graphic artist by usage of a dulydesignated mask layer as employed within a suitable graphics designprogram as operating on a computer may readily utilize gloss control asan enhancement effect for artistic expression or special effects.

FIG. 1 shows how the human eye 1 can read gloss image upon a page fromon an angle where from straight on it cannot. Three glossy areas 14 areshown. One ray of light 10 from the light source 2 hits the paper at apoint where there is no gloss toner 14 and the reflected light 13 isdiffused so that there is only a small amount of light in alldirections, including the direction toward the human eye 1. Another rayof light 11 of equal intensity touches the paper at a point where thereis gloss toner 14. Here there is a large amount of reflected light 12 inthe indicated direction. If the human eye 1 is positioned as shown, alarge difference between glossy and non-glossy toner areas is readilyobservable by the human eye 1. However, a human eye at 3 reads mostlyincident light only at right angles to the paper. In this case there isonly a small amount of diffused light coming from both the glossy andnon-glossy dots, and the observer cannot detect a difference. This isone prior art approach for creating a gloss image which requires specialtoner.

Heretofore, there has been little appreciation for the fact that theinherent reflective and diffusive characteristics of halftones may bemanipulated to be directive of incident light as about an azimuth by useof a halftone structure which is anisotropic in nature. A mirror isequally reflective regardless of the azimuth of the light sourcerelative to the plane of the mirror. Similarly, an ordinary blank paperis equally reflective and diffusive regardless of the azimuth of thelight source. However, printed matter can and will often displaydiffering reflective and diffusive characteristics depending upon theazimuth of origin for a light source relative to the structuralorientation of the halftone. Such reflective characteristics whenmaximized are exhibited in a halftone with a structure which isanisotropic in nature. In other words, the indicatrix used to expressthe light scattered or reflected from a halftone dot will maximally varydepending upon the halftone dot's azimuth orientation to the lightsource when that halftone has an anisotropic structure. FIG. 2 providesan example of the present invention and of what is meant by anisotropicstructure.

In FIG. 2, a simple line-screen halftone of anisotropic nature ispresented in two orientations relative to impinging incident light 200,a parallel orientation 210 and a perpendicular orientation 220. Bothhalftone dot orientations are selected to be similar in density so thatthe diffuse light and incident light at orthogonal angles to the paperare equal. In this way the light which is available to scanner 3 or tothe human eye from straight on is the same. However, the specularreflected light 12 is considerably greater for the anisotropic parallelorientation 210. If as printed, a mass of the 210 parallel orientationhalftones are butted directly adjacent to a mass of 220 perpendicularorientation halftones, there will be a difference in reflected lightbetween them, which when viewed from an angle will be perceived as ashift in gloss differential or a glossmark. The perceptibility of thisgloss differential will be maximized when the halftone anisotropicorientations are 90 degrees apart as shown here in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 shows example halftone cells suitable for a skilled practitionerto employ in an embodiment employing the teachings of the presentinvention. They are but one useful example as will be evident to thoseskilled in the art. Each halftone cell is comprised as a three by sixpixel array. The turn on/off sequence is numerically indicated. Note thediagonal orientation of the pixel numbering. The type-A sub-cell 310 andtype-B sub-cell 320 both have a 45 degree orientation, one to the rightand the other to the left. This orientation can be clearly seen in thedensity sweeps 410 and 420 of FIG. 4. To maximize the perceptibility ofthe gloss differential, the orientations of sub-cells type-A and type-Bare arranged 90 degrees apart one from the other.

FIG. 5 depicts a glossmark image 500 achievable using halftone cells asdescribed above. Screen-A 510 uses one halftone cell type and screen-B520 uses the other. The circle 501 is provided as a visual aid acrossthe image screens 500, 510 and 520. The desired glossmark here is for asphere 502 to be perceived in the midst of image 500. Screen-A 510provides the field of right diagonal oriented anisotropic halftones andscreen 520 provides the spherical area of left diagonal orientedanisotropic halftone cells. In this manner, a selection of the twoscreen types are patch-worked together to create the glossmark image500.

An another approach for the assembly of a glossmark image is diagramedin FIG. 6. Here, the primary image 600 is received as input data to thedigital front-end (DFE) 610 as is normal. However, a desired glossmarkimage 620 is also received as input data to the DFE 610 as well. Theprocessed image as sent to the image output terminal (IOT) 630 isgray-scaled, the halftone density being driven by the primary image 600data as is normal. However, the halftone type selection is driven by theintended glossmark image data 620 as input to multiplexer switch 640.The intended glossmark image data 620 will serve to direct a portion ofthe primary image 600 to use a first anisotropic structured halftonewhile directing an alternative halftone to be used for the remainder ofprimary image 600. As will be understood by those skilled in the art,the intended glossmark image data 620 may be flattened into simple zeroand one pixel data representations if needed in the DFE 610. Thispattern of zero and ones are then used to toggle the multiplexer 640 toone halftone anisotropic structure orientation type or the other.Multiplexer 640 therefore toggles between either screen 1 type halftone650 or screen 2 halftone type 660 as dictated by the desired glossmarkdata 620 to produce the composite result of raster input processed (RIP)image data as passed to the IOT 630. In this way, a superimposition of apattern 620 is imbedded into the primary image 600 which can only beperceived as a gloss differential glossmark.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, one desirable way inwhich a graphics designer can generate glossmark image data 620 would beby use of a computer loaded with an appropriate software application.One suitable example of such a software application would be CorelDraw®,although there are others. In such a suitable software application, itis possible for the designer to designate a unique mask layer within theprogram for the depiction of glossmark image data.

In FIG. 7, there is shown by superimposition an example of the kind ofmask layer/level that is discussed above. Typical primary image data 600is scanned in or created from scratch. In this example, the primaryimage data 600 just happens to be a mountain landscape. A unique masklayer 700 has been defined as a repository for the intended glossmarkdata 620. In this instance, that glossmark data just happens to be anumber of happy faces though, of course, it could anything and is onlylimited by the designer's imagination. For example, some possibleeffects might be to provide sheen or highlight effects or reflectionripples on water and so on. In any case, the mask level 700 providesglossmark data 620 as input to the DFE 610. So that in this example theportions of image data 600 corresponding to the overlay of happy faceswould be rendered with a first anisotropic structured halftone 650. Theremaining portion of primary image data 600 corresponding to the fieldarea of mask level 700 would be rendered with a second anisotropicstructured halftone 660 as discussed above.

In closing, by using a designed mask layer to direct the alternatingbetween two halftone types, the two halftones carefully selected suchthat each has identical matching density characteristics whiledisplaying distinctly different anisotropic structure orientations, willenable the super imposition of a designer glossmark data without theneed or cost for special toners or paper. This manipulation of glossdifferentials will, of course, be best utilized with toner/ink andsubstrate systems which themselves best display inherent glosscharacteristics. Examples of such systems comprise electrostaticgraphicand quality ink-jet systems. While wax based systems typically have lessinherent gloss they may well prove amendable to techniques whichincrease their inherent gloss. In just such a scenario, the teachingsherein are anticipated to apply such wax based systems as well. It willbe appreciated by those skilled in the art that these teachings willapply to both monochromatic, black and white, as well as color imagesand upon plain paper, glossy paper or transparencies. Those skilled inthe art will also understand that this manipulation of inherentanisotropic gloss differential will be weak where either there is asolid black area (solid toner/ink) or a white and thereforetoner-less/ink-less area. That is because these areas will not bestexhibit the anisotropic structures of the selected halftones.

While the embodiments disclosed herein are preferred, it will beappreciated from this teaching that various alternative modifications,variations or improvements therein may be made by those skilled in theart. For example, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatthe teachings provided herein may be applicable to many types ofhalftone cell types and arrangements including selecting more than twodifferent halftone structures, as well being applicable to many types oftoner/ink and substrate types. All such variants are intended to beencompassed by the following claims.

1. A method for a designer to provide glossmarks in a halftone imagecomprising the steps of: providing a unique mask level with desiredglossmark data; providing primary image data; and using the unique masklevel data to toggle the selection of either a first halftone having afirst anisotropic structure orientation or a second halftone having asecond anisotropic structure orientation different from that of thefirst halftone, where the first halftone is used for at least someportion of the primary image data and the second halftone is used forthe remaining portion of the primary image data in rendering thehalftone image.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first anisotropicstructure orientation and the second anisotropic structure orientationare 90 degrees apart.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the firstanisotropic structure has a parallel orientation, and the secondanisotropic structure has perpendicular orientation.
 4. The method ofclaim 3 wherein the first and second halftones are line type halftones.5. The method of claim 3 wherein the first and second halftones are dottype halftones.
 6. The method of claim 2 wherein the first anisotropicstructure has a 45 degree orientation to the right, and the secondanisotropic structure has a 45 degree orientation to the left.
 7. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the first anisotropic structure orientationand the second anisotropic structure orientation are less than 90degrees apart.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the halftone image isintended for an ink jet printer.
 9. The method of claim 1 wherein thehalftone image is intended for an electrostaticgraphic printer.
 10. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the halftone image is intended for printingupon paper.
 11. The method of claim 1 wherein the halftone image isintended for printing upon a transparency.
 12. A method for a designerto provide glossmarks in a halftone image comprising the steps of:providing a unique mask level with desired glossmark data; providingprimary image data; and using the unique mask level data to toggle theselection of either a first halftone having a first anisotropicstructure orientation or a second halftone different from that of thefirst halftone, where the first halftone is used for at least someportion of the primary image data and the second halftone is used forthe remaining portion of the primary image data in rendering thehalftone image.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the second halftoneis a stochastic type.
 14. The method of claim 12 wherein the secondhalftone is a cluster dot type.
 15. The method of claim 12 wherein thehalftone image is intended for an ink jet printer.
 16. The method ofclaim 12 wherein the halftone image is intended for anelectrostaticgraphic printer.
 17. A method for a designer to provideglossmarks in a halftone image comprising the steps of: providing aunique mask level with desired glossmark data; providing primary imagedata; and using the unique mask level data to toggle the selection ofeither a first halftone having a first anisotropic structureorientation, or a second halftone having a second anisotropic structureorientation different from that of the first halftone, or a thirdhalftone having a structure different from both the first halftone andthe second halftone, where the first halftone is used for at least someportion of the primary image data, and the second halftone is used foranother portion of the primary image data, and the third halftone isused for the remaining portion of the primary image data in renderingthe halftone image.
 18. The method of claim 17 wherein the firstanisotropic structure orientation and the second anisotropic structureorientation are 90 degrees apart.
 19. The method of claim 17 wherein thefirst anisotropic structure orientation and the second anisotropicstructure orientation are less than 90 degrees apart.
 20. The method ofclaim 18 wherein the third halftone has an anisotropic structureorientation different from both the first halftone and the secondhalftone.
 21. The method of claim 18 wherein the third halftone is astochastic type of halftone.
 22. The method of claim 18 wherein thethird halftone is a cluster dot type of halftone.
 23. The method ofclaim 21 wherein the first anisotropic structure has a 45 degreeorientation to the right, and the second anisotropic structure has a 45degree orientation to the left.
 24. The method of claim 23 wherein thehalftone image is intended for an electrostaticgraphic printer.
 25. Themethod of claim 23 wherein the halftone image is intended for an ink jetprinter.